Without a Dowry

Brief Overview

«Without a Dowry» is a social drama written by Alexander Ostrovsky, first published in 1878. The play tells the story of a young woman named Larisa, who lives with her mother, a struggling widow. Due to the lack of a dowry, Larisa is seen as an unattractive prospect for marriage by potential suitors. At the heart of the plot are her relationships with various men who either initially exploit her or ultimately betray her for their material interests. The play vividly portrays the tragic plight of women in the bourgeois society of 19th-century Russia and criticizes the mercantile attitude towards marriage that prevailed in society at the time.